History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 25

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

161

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Henry was engaged. General Atkinson left the pursuit of the twenty Indians, and hastened to share in the engagement. lle was met by Henry's messenger near the scene of action, in passing through which, the dead and dying In- dians lying around bore frightful evidence of the stern work which had been done before his arrival. However, he lost no time in forming his regulars and Dodge's battalion for a descent upon the island. These forces, together with Ewing's battalion and Fry's regiment, made a charge through the water up to their arm-pits on to the island, where most of the Indians had taken their last refuge. All the Indians who attempted to swim the river were picked off with rifles, or found a watery grave before they reached the opposite shore. Those upon the island kept up a severe fire from behind logs and driftwood upon the men, as they advanced to the charge, but most of them there secreted were either killed, captured or driven into the water, where they perished miserably, either by drowning, or the still more fatal rifle. The In- dian loss in this battle, known as the battle of Bad-Axe, is estimated at one hundred and fifty killed, as many more drowned in the river, and fifty prisoners taken, mostly squaws and chil- dren. The loss of the whites were seventeen killed and twelve wounded.

The twenty men who led General Atkinson astray, were led by Black Hawk in person, and as soon as Atkinson ceased his pursuit, they re- treated to the Dells on the Wisconsin river. A number of Sioux and Winnebagoes went in pursuit of him, headed by Decorah, a Winne- bago chief, and captured them on the upper Wis- consin river. The prisoners were brought down to Prairie DuChien and delivered up to General Street, the United States Indian Agent. Among the number captured was a son of Black Hawk, and also the Prophet, a noted chief, who form- erly resided at Prophet's town, in Whiteside county, and who was one of the principal insti- gators of the war. Thus ended the Black Hawk war. The militia were sent to Dixon and dis- charged. Black Hawk and the Prophet were taken east and confined in Fortress Monroe for a time. On the 4th day of June they were set free. Before leaving the fort, Black Hawk de- livered the following farewell speech to the commander:

"Brother, I have come on my own part, and in behalf of my companions, to bid you fare- well. Our great father has at length been pleased to permit us to return to our hunting grounds. We have buried the tomahawk, and the 1

sound of the rifle hereafter will only bring death to the deer and the buffalo. Brothers, you have treated the red man very kindly. Your squaws have made them presents; you have given them plenty to eat and drink The memory of your friendship will remain till the Great Spirit says it is time for Black Ilawk to sing his death song. Brother, your houses are as numerous as the leaves on the trees, and your young warriors like the sands upon the shore of the big lake that rolls before us. The red man has but few houses and few warriors, but the red man has a heart which throbs as warmly as the heart of his white brother. The Great Spirit has given us our hunting grounds, and the skin of the deer which we kill there is his favorite, for its color is white, and this is the emblem of peace. This hunting dress and these feathers of the eagle are white. Accept them, my brother. I have given one like this to the White Otter. Accept it as a memorial of Black Hawk. When he is far away this will serve to remind you of him. May the Great Spirit bless you and your children. Farewell."

After their release from prison they were con- ducted, in charge of Major Garland, through some of the principal cities, that they might witness the power of the United States and learn their own inability to cope with them in war. Great multitudes flocked to see them wherever they were taken, and the attention paid them rendered their progress through the country a triumphal procession, instead of the transportation of prisoners by an officer. At Rock Island the prisoners were given their lib- erty, amid great and impressive ceremony. In 1838 Black Hawk built him a dwelling near Des Moines, Iowa, and furnished it after the manner of the whites, and engaged in agricultural pur- suits and hunting and fishing. Here, with his wife, to whom he was greatly attached, he passed the few remaining days of his life. To his credit, it may be said, that Black Hawk re- mained trne to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among Indians, living with her more than forty years.

Black Hawk died October 3, 1838.

After the close of the Black Hawk war Con- gress voted the munificent sum of twenty-one cents a day to the volunteers. The Sangamo Journal protested vigorously against such injus- tice, urging that a Congress that voted each member of that body $8 per day for their serv- ices, could afford to be a little more liberal with those who periled their lives in a contest with the savage Indians.

162

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Forty-nine years have now passed since the events of the Black Hawk war, and yet justice has never been done the brave men who partici- pated in it, by the United States Congress. A few of the men participating in the war yet live-a very few. Some of them are in need of the necessaries of life, and yet nothing is done for them by representatives who annually squan- der millions of the people's money. Surely, the time has come when something should be done.

Upon the return of the Sangamon county soldiers, a ball was given in Miller's hotel in Springfield, "in honor of General James D. Henry and the brave soldiers lately under his command." The local papers chronicle it as "a pleasant affair."

The following are the names, compiled from official sources, of Sangamon county men serv- ing in this war:

CAPTAIN CLAYWELL'S COMPANY.

Ninety Days Men. CAPTAIN. Jesse Claywell. FIRST LIEUTENANT. John H. Wilcoxen. SECOND LIEUTENANT. Rezin H. Constant. SERGEANTS.

Archibald Cass, Valentine P .. Mallory,

Andrew Moore, William S. Hussey,

CORPORALS.

Robert L Gott, James C. Hagan,

William B. Hagan, John McLemoor.

PRIVATES.

Anderson, Alexander, Green, George,

Anderson, Lewis C., Helm, Guy,

Anderson, James, Hagan, Samuel C.,

Anderson, Washington, Hide, John,

Burns, John R., Kelley, Jeremiah,

Barnet, William I., Langston, James,

Brewer, John, Jr., Lucas, Thomas,

Barnet, William,

Martin, Joseph,

Barnet, Hugh,

Neucane, William T., Prim, Abraham,

Cass, Anderson B.,

Constant, Nathan E.,

Powell, John,

Constant, Isaac

Powell, Hiram,

Crocker, Harvey, Rogers, William F.,

Copeland, John, Riddle, James, Currey, George, Snelson, John W.,

Dement, William,

Shearley, James,

Elliot, Haddon,

Smith, Joseph I.,

Elliot, Richard,

Smith, Philip,

Glenn, David A., Stone, William A.

The foregoing received pay for services ren- dered. The following named received no pay:

FIRST LIEUTENANT. Sowyel Cox. CORPORALS.

Nathan Hussey, Harrison McGary.

PRIVATES,

Brewer, John, Sr., Smith, Eliephas,

Dooley, Jeremiah, Turner, William,

McGary, Hugh, Waldron, James,

Pickrell, Benjamin F., Wilcox, Ephraim,

Stone, Caleb, Young, Joseph R.

CAPTAIN ALEXANDER WIIITE'S COMPANY. Twenty Days Men. CAPTAIN. Alexander White. FIRST LIEUTENANT. Tolbert Shipley. SERGEANTS.

Ebenezer Higgins, Enl. Perkins,

John Waggoner, John O. Smith.

CORPORALS.

Hugh Wilson, Amzi Doolittle, William Wallace,

PRIVATES.

Thomas Willis, John Moffett,

George Middleton, Davidson Hibbert,

James Marfett, Hugh White,

Elisha Hickerson, Daniel Thompson,

Andrew Turner, William D. Hickerson,

Abraham Moore, Thomas Brewer,

Nathan Kenedy, Abraham Lincoln,

William G. Gerkins, William Sailors,

William Cash,

William Higgins,

George Buchanan,

IIezekiah Spillman,

Riley Driskell,

Samuel Goodwin,

John R. Atherton,

James Wilson,

Benjamin Mitehler,

Joshua Owens,

Thomas Wilson,

Jacob Compton,

Thomas H. Owens, Hezekiah P. Bradley,

John M. Forrest, Johnson Clark, Jr.

CAPTAIN L. W. GOODAN'S COMPANY.

Enlisted April 2, 1832, and mustered out of the service May 28, 1832:

CAPTAIN. L. W. Goodan. FIRST LIEUTENANT. John Reed. SECOND LIEUTENANT. William Cantrall. SERGEANTS.

Alford Wood, Hiram Watson,

John Ridge, Milton Humes,

CORPORALS.

John Kline, William Smith,

James B. Jones,

George E. Cobenness,

Moses Brunts. PRIVATES.

John Baker, Asa Easters, William McCollister, Moses Brumfield,

William Crow, Richard Queenston,

William Davenport, Jefferson Welch,

Benjamin Sims, George Robison,

M. C. Kindle, Jesse Said,

Jesse Darrow, Jacob M. Erby,

John Hurst, Robert Brassel,

Johnson Clark, Sr.,

John McKee,

Isaac Stephens, Edward White,

William E. Franklin,

Andrew H. Perkins,

163

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

James Q. Wills, David M. Brink, Uriah Mann, William Steele, James Jones,

Samuel Mckinsey, William E. Wells, Reuben King, Noah Jones, Noah Mason,

Samuel Malugon,

Zachariah Malugon,

Simeon Bunts,

Charles Dawson,

Achalis Morris,

John B. Brown, John B. Rutlege,

Joseph McCoy,

Harden Thomas,

Simeon Ditson, Daniel Goode,

Jack Kirk,

Nathaniel Foster,

Thomas Sherill,

James Taylor,

William Carpenter, Daniel Richardson,

Edward Jones,

James Baker,

Elijah Iles,

Jacob Williams,

John Martin,

Joseph Wages, Archelaus Demon,

Zachariah Mouland, Joel Miner,

Jacob Hilgon,

William White,

John Rentop,

Jesse Hornback,

John Bridges,

William Kelly,

John C. Strader,

Benjamin Burck,

Benjamin Clurry,

Jacob Martin,

Lewis Churchill,

Clemans Strickland,

James Smith,

John Ward,

Jacob G. Warwick,

Lewis Barney,

George B. Lucas,

Alfred Powell,

Joseph Rayborn,

Solomon Brundage,

Jesse M. Harrison,

John Ridgway,

William Crane,

Robert Hughs,

John Musick,

Samuel Evans,

Montgomery Warwick,

George Green,

Hugh Burnett,

Jefferson Martin, Jonathan H. Pugh,

William B. Short,

Zadock Martin,

Edward Jones, George W. Glasscock,

Joseph F. Ganard,

James Taylor,

John T. Stuart, Ethelbert J. Oliphant,

Lorenzo D. Matheny,

William L. Potts.

James F. Reed,

P. A. Saunders,

David Dickerson,

John Keys,

Elijah Iles.

CAPTAIN JAPHET A. BALL'S COMPANY.

This company was mustered into the United States' service April 21, 1832, and mustered out May 28, 1832.

CAPTAIN. Japhet A. Ball. FIRST LIEUTENANT. Alexander D. Cox. SECOND LIEUTENANT. John McConnack. SERGEANTS.

Joseph W. Duncan, William F. Cox, James McConnack, Charles Day .

CORPORALS.

Harvey Graham,

John M. Barnes,

Thomas J. Clark, Richard Cox,

PRIVATES.

Thomas MeKinney, Elder Massec,

Thomas Gatton, Abram Lanterman, Jonathan Coleman, Henry Averill, Lewis C. Jones, Daniel Ketchum,

FIRST LIEUTENANT, William Pickrell. 19 --

SECOND LIEUTENANT; John Hamback.

SERGEANTS.

Corbin C. Judd,

Harrison McGary,

John Brewer, John Retherford.

CORPORALS.

Thomas I. Knox, John Wright, Seymour R. Van Meter, Hugh MeGary. PRIVATES.

Michael Kilyon, Jeremiah Kelly,

James Brown,

John Bracken,

John Scroggins, John Roger,

Samuel Wade, Adam Venus,

Joseph Black, William Clark,

Jesse Dotson,

James F. Reed,

P. A. Saunders,

D. Dickison,

William Constant,

T. M. Neale,

Joseph Garrett,

Robert Richardson,

E. P. Olesshart,

B. O. Rusk,

John T. Stuart,

Michael Archey,

George Glasscock,

Vincon Archey,

William Patts,

Matthias Chilton, James D. Henry,

Samuel O. Neale,

CAPTAIN J. M. EARLEY'S COMPANY.

Thirty Days Men. CAPTAIN, Jacob M. Earley. FIRST LIEUTENANT, G. W. Glasscock. SECOND LIEUTENANT, D. B. Rusk. SERGEANTS.

Zachariah Malugin, Noah Mason,

Jacob Eby, W. M. Neale.

CORPORALS.

W. II. Brents, William Crow.

PRIVATES.

James D. Henry, Samuel O. Neale;

Achilles Morris,

A. Lincoln,

James F. Reed, John Paul,

William S. Pickrell, John T. Stuart,

William L. Potts, John L. Stephenson, L. D. Matheny,

Jesse Danon,

Joseph McCoy,

Hugh McGary,

Harrison McGary,

Montgomery Warrick, John C. Warrick,

B. F. Pickrell, John Baker,

George Harrison, George Stout,

John Brewer, J. R. Loveless, R. J. Gilbert.

CAPTAIN JOHN DAWSON'S COMPANY.

This company served from April 21, 1832, to May 28, 1832.

CAPTAIN, John Dawson.

Samuel Ramer,

Reuben Bradford,

L. D. Matheny,

Joseph Rolston, Samuel Hamilton, John Calhoun,

John Keys,

James Sherell.

William Lobb,

Squire Foster,

Calahill Stone, James M. Reed,

Charles Turly,

Adam Smith,

164

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

William Mitts, John Brunsfield,

Joseph Hazlett, William Downer,

John Ridgeway, Saddler, Hill, John P.,

Jesse H. Sleat, Farrier, Latham, John, David Duncan, Trumpeter, Lowe, Richard,

Armstrong, Hugh M.,

Atkinson, Bushrod,

Brazzle, William,

Ball, Smith,

Cooper, W.

Cannon, Walter,

Cabanass, Zabalon P., Norris, Joseph,

Durham, Walter, Paine, Barzilla,

Duncan, Joseph W.,

Pulliam, Martin G.,

Drennan, A. P., Pierce, Philetus G.,

Elkin, Garret,

Peter, Samuel,

Epperson, Thomas, Saunders, Pressly,

Enix, James,

Smith, Tillman,

Forbes, R. A., Smith, John,

Golsondiner, John L., Smith, Adam,

Glasscock, Gregory, Stout, George,

Watson, Hiram.

PROMOTED. John Warnsing. RESIGNATIONS. David Black, First Lieut., T. Epperson, 2d Serg't. DISCHARGED.

Joseph Inslee,

Abler Armisted,

Thomas Crom. CAPTAIN J. EBEY'S COMPANY.

Captain J. Ebey's company served from the 21st day of April, 1832, to the 28th day of May, 1832.

CAPTAIN. Jacob Ebey . FIRST LIEUTENANT. Edward Shaw. SECOND LIEUTENANT. Winslow M. Neale. SERGEANTS.

Thomas J. Marshall, Davis Meredith,

James B. Gable,

David S. Collins,

CORPORALS.

Reese Williams,

James E. Hawes,

Harmon Renshaw, Wiley Blunt,

PRIVATES.

Joseph Drennan, James Harper,

Frederick A. Hamilton, Samuel Graham,

Daniel Hatan, John Hillis,

Jackulin Bashaw, William Hazlett,

Thomas Sherill, Adam Vancil,

Jacob Hinkle, Henry Diekson,

Stephen Hedrick, George Milton,

James E. Byers,

Thomas Stout, James Carver,

John G. Newhouse,

Joseph Brown,

Philip Clark,

Lawrence McMenus,

Urich Wolverton, John Whitmore, Milton Terrill, Isaac Clark,

John Collins,

Jesse Byer, Obadiah Rittenhouse,

Levi, John, Lane, Jacob, Langley, Robert, McAlister, William, Moore, JJoseph, Milts, William,

John Ball, James Ward,

Robert B. Sexton,

Samuel C. Hampton,

Jolın Terry,

Moses Wright,

John Kendall,

John D. Bagby,

John Gately,

Thomas Cook,

Abram Howard,

Daniel Waters,

Robert Patton, John Vincent,

Thomas Swearingen.

CAPTAIN REUBEN BROWN'S COMPANY.

This company was mustered into the United States service June 20, 1832, and mustered out August 16, 1832.

CAPTAIN. Reuben Brown.

FIRST LIEUTENANT. William Baker. SECOND LIEUTENANT. Delos Brown. SERGEANTS.

Thomas Jones, Evan Morgan,

Samuel E. McKenzey, Nathaniel Said.

Jessie Said, Rezin Brown,

John Fagan, James B. Jones.

PRIVATES.

Archer, Winston, Larkin, Young,

Baker, James, Martin, Ralley,

Baker, Thomas, McKinzey, Henry,

Brown, Jerry,

Poor, James H.,

Cartwright, Peter,

Porter, William,

Delay, Stephen,

Pulliam, James,

Donaldson, Dudley,

Piker, John,

Durbin, Edward, Spillars, William H.,

Douglass, Thomas, Stafford, Daniel S.,

Haggard, James, St. John, Joseph,

Kendrick, Samuel, Trotter, George,

Lucas, Allen B., Williams, Isaiah B.

CAPTAIN THOMAS MOFFETT'S COMPANY. This company served from June 4, 1832, to August 16, 1832.

CAPTAIN. Thomas Moffett. FIRST LIEUTENANT. Shadrach J. Campbell. SECOND LIEUTENANT. James Watson. CORNET. Gershom Dovience.

SERGEANTS.

John Oldfield, Franklin Williams, George Lindsey, William C. Stephenson. CORPORALS.

John Humphreys, Nathan Ralston,

James Campbell, Jarrett Mckinney.

PRIVATES.

William Gatlin,

John IIutton,

Barnabas M. Blue,

Nathan H. Spears,

Solomon W. Hawes,

William McConnack,

Morris R. Moorick,

Charles Smith,

Jesse Mitts, Garrett Tempe,

William C. Atwood, Daniel McClies, William Martin,

John Boyd,

Granbury B. Jones, George Catha, William D. Russett, James Rutlege, George W. Foster, James Taylor,

CORPORALS.

165

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

John Davis, Samuel B. Scoole, John Graft, John H. Wright.

Felix Herndon,

Alfred Hash,

CAPTAIN ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S COMPANY.

The company commanded by Abraham Lin- coln, afterwards President of the United States, was mustered into service April 21, 1832, and mustered out May 27, 1832.

CAPTAIN, Abraham Lincoln. FIRST LIEUTENANT, Samuel M. Thompson. SECOND LIEUTENANT, John Brannan. SERGEANTS,

John Armstrong, George W. Foster,

Taviner B. Anderson, Obadiah Morgan.

CORPORALS.

Thomas Comb, John Plaster, William F. Berry, Alexander Trent.

PRIVATES.

John Erwin,

John H. Houghton,

Thomas Pierce,

Samuel Lebb,

Henry Hadley,

Samuel Dutten,

'Calvin Pierce,

Joseph Lebb,

William Kirkpatrick,

Cyrus Elmore,

Elijah Pierce,

Lewis W. Farmer,

Bordry Mathews,

E. Sullivan,

Valentine Crete,

Charles Sullivan,

James Simmons,

Hugh Armstrong,

Allen King,

Joseph Dobson,

Henry Cox,

Merritt M. Carman,

Royal Potter,

David M. Pantier,

Evan T. Lamb,

John M. Rutlege,

Usil Meeker,

Charles Pierce,

James Clement, Richard Lane,

John Y. Lane, Royal Clary,

Pleasant Armstrong,

James Yardley,

David Rutlege,

Michael Plaster,

John Mounce,

William Hobiner,

Isaac Anderson,

William Marshall,

Jolın Jones,

William Cummins, Travis Elmore,

William Foster.

CAPTAIN ILES' COMPANY.

CAPTAIN. Elijah Iles. FIRST LIEUTENANT. Jesse H. Harrison. SERGEANTS.

George W. Glasscock, Zachariah Milligent. Benjamin Burch. CORPORALS.

Alexander Trent, G. W. Foster. Jesse Darrows.

PRIVATES. Pressley A. Saunders, A. Lincoln, John T. Stuart, Joseph T. Garrett,

Asa Estes,

James D. Henry,

Jacob M. Earley,

Michael Archer,

John J. Gately,

John Kirkpatrick.

John Letcher,

James M. Ward,

John Kendall,

Winston M. Nea e,

William McAllister,

John B. Rutledge, John Keys,

Jeflerson Welch,

Noah Mason,

Thomas Long,

Samuel O'Neal,

Moses Brentz,

David Dickinson. Lorenzo D. Matheny,

William Kirkpatrick, Thomas Pierce,

Samuel Milligent,

William Crow,

Achilles Morris,

William L. Potts,

James F. Reid,

Benjamin Rusk,

E. P. Oliphant, William S. Pickrell,

Lewis Churchill, John Brannan,

Joseph McCoy, Jacob Eby,

Jolın McAllister.

MISCELLANEOUS.

William Cummings, Daniel King,

John I. Gately, Usel Meeker,

REMINISCENCE OF THE BLACK HAWK WAR.

In the fall of 1881, the Sangamon Monitor published the names of the company commanded by Captain lles, which drew out the following from the pen of Major John T. Stuart, and which was written for and printed in the Monitor :

"Having published a list of the names of Ma- jor Iles' company in the Black Hawk war of 1832, you would, doubtless, be pleased to know something of the history of that company. The volunteer force assembled in the spring of that year, under the orders of Governor Rey- nolds, and commanded by General Whitesides ; marched to Rock Island, and finding that the Indians had crossed the Mississippi and gone up Rock river, followed them up that stream with- out any incident worthy of note, until they ar- rived at Dixon's ferry, (now Dixon).

"Captain Snyder's company had been detached across Rock river, to protect Galena and its neighborhood, but no news had reached the camp at Ottawa of his movements, or of the con- dition of things in the neighborhood of Galena. The commanding officers at Ottawa were very uneasy and anxious to communicate with Gale- na. While in camp at Dixon, at midnight the army was aroused by the news of the defeat at Stillman, brought first by one and then another flying from the battle ground. The army of General Whitesides in the early morning, took up the line of march for the battle ground, and arrived there in the early afternoon and found that the Indians bad marched up Rock river, leaving their dead on the ground, as well as the killed of the whites, and many slaughtered horses, making a sad sight to behold. White- sides' army buried the dead and marched back to Dixon.

David Rankin,

Urbin Alexander,

Joseph Holmier,

George Warburton, Clardy Barnette,

William Cox, Richard Jones,

166

IIISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

"The term of service of the volunteers of that army was about to expire and they were anxious to return home. A council of war was held at Dixon, in which it was debated whether to pur- sue the enemy or march to the Illinois, disband the army and wait for the new levies. After an angry debate, it was decided to march to Otta- wa, on the Illinois river, and disband the army. Whitesides' army was then marched to Ottawa and disbanded, burying on the route Mr. Katty and others, murdered by the Indians on Fox river.

" At Ottawa a call was made for volunteers to form a regiment for twenty days, to protect the northern frontier of the State from the Indians during the time that would elapse before the as- sembling of the new forces. Among those who volunteered were the men whose names you pub- lished as composing Iles' company, and who, by common consent, elected Elijah Iles captain-a man then in the prime of life, and popular as a man and a soldier.

"Afterthe disbandment of the army of General Whitesides, the condition of the scattered set- tlements in northern Illinois was sad indeed. Universal terror prevailed. The Indians, victo- rious over Stillman, and elated by their victory, had fallen upon the settlements on Fox river, and at other places, and had murdered and scalped some and carried others into captivity. It was understood they were scattered in small parties from the neighborhood of Chicago to the Mississippi river, along the entire line of fron- tier. Where would they strike next ? Would they attack Chicago, or fall upon the defenceless settlers on the borders of the Illinois river and the military tract ? Would they aim to cut off Galena from support and attempt to capture it ? These questions may seem idle now. They were momentous then.

"It soon became known that a large force of Indians, under the command of Black Hawk, were between Rock river and Galena, and threatening that town, then having about four hundred inhabitants.

" It was believed to be an expedition of much danger and hazard, and therefore it was deter- mined to call for volunteers. Major Iles' compa- ny volunteered and was accepted. After due preparation, that company began its march, the bearer of important dispatches. It camped the first night at a grove south of Dixon, believed to be Chalong's. The next day it swam Rock river at Dixon, thirsted for adventure and was ready, anxious for the fight. They had confi- dence in each other, and in their modest, but

brave, prudent captain. They were accom- panied by General James D. Henry, going as a private, but also acting as aid to the Captain, then believed and afterwards proved to be.

"It was splendidly armed; it was composed of first-class material of men, who, if not brave, dare not be cowards. My Captain was one of the best Captains of his time. They were also accompanied, as a volunteer, by a Captain in the regular army, whose name the writer has forgot- ten, and thus armed, composed, and officered, it is believed no better company of volunteer mili- tia ever marched to what it believed a post of danger and patriotic duty.

" It camped the second night at Buffalo grove. During that night the company expected an at- tack from the Indians. There were many signs that they were around and about them, and once an alarm was given, and the company mustered under arms. The next morning the company marched towards Galena, and entered the tim- bers of Apple creek about noon. Here an In- dian pony was seen running at large, and some of the boys thought to capture it; but the Cap- tain, believing that it had been let loose as a decoy to induce the breaking of ranks, and to give the enemy an opportunity to make an at- tack, sternly forbade the effort, and commanded to close the ranks and be ready.

"The company pursued its march, and en- camped for the night in the timbers of Apple creek, about twelve or fifteen miles from Ga- lena, and there were many signs that they were watched and followed, but the company was ever ready for an attack. They camped that night near where a fight had taken place between the Indians and Sneyder's company that day or the preceding night. During that night not a man doubted but that the Indians would make an attack before morning. The company was kept under arms all night, and constantly drilled by Henry and others, and picket gnards placed all around the encampment. That the Indians were all around the encampment was very mani- fest, and the writer of this, who stood on picket guard during most of that night, did not doubt but that he heard them more than once; but they made no attack, because the company was too well prepared to receive them. Next morn- ing the company marched into Galena, delivered its dispatches, procured all desired information, and then, in the same good order, marched back to Ottawa, and was disbanded. Most of its members enlisted in the new army, and in Early's spy company.

167

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

"That the Indians were in Apple creek tim- bers, during the march of the company to and from Galena, admits of no doubt. They at- tacked, and came very near defeating Sneyder's company, or part of it, a short time before the company marched through to Galena. They at- tacked Stephenson's company a short time after its return from Galena, and not long after at- tacked Dement. These attacks were made when these commands were at a disadvantage. Why did they not attack Iles' company? No one of that company doubted but that they were watched and followed by Indians, from the time the company crossed Rock river until its arrival at Galena, and on its return, seeking an oppor- tunity to make an attack. The answer is that the company was handled, armed, and kept such perfect order and readiness for an attack that the Indians were afraid to make it.

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History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 25

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084